| Freddy Adu: the rise and fall of a 20 year-old veteran | ||||
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| PS Internacional - English | |||
 Freddy - here's an ordinary name. But Adu - is this an ordinary footballer after all?Fredua Koranteng Adu was born in Tema, Ghana and went to the USA with his mother when he was only 8. And so he performed another American dream story: after turning down moves to European clubs since he was 10, he played his first match at 14 after becoming the youngest American athlete in over 100 years to sign a pro contract in any team sport. (Versión en español aquí) He was a MLS all-star - twice. He played four international competitions for his adopted national team. And he got his first full cap when he was only 16. And yes, he also scored his first international goal when he was 19 years and 170 days. He was the next big thing. And so he was set to move on - to Europe. Where all the stars do their jobs performing as stars. But this has been the problem. And we mean playing, not even performing. Two months after turning 18 he finally left soccer and moved to Benfica, the biggest Portuguese club. Eventually a good choice: a smooth door to Europe, in a good but not top league, a big club playing to win every match, with an experienced squad not depending on any hot prospect. And the club was happy: 2 million dollars was not too much for a player with such a worldwide reputation and such great expectations, opening a big door into the all-emigrant American and African markets. So he would be playing and maturing his game, learning how to do it - the European way. True is that he did not start one single match for Benfica, scoring only five goals from an average of 21 minutes played per match.  Benfica expected many images like this, but Adu never fit in the team. / Photo: Blogdelrojo.com Freddy kept his international status and was loaned out to the beautiful Monaco, a different kind of football and personal context, different league, relaxed club, city and fans. But the numbers were even worse. No starts, no goals, one yellow card. And he showed no football at all… Adu was never there. So 165 minutes later from 10 matches played -always as a sub, and back to Portugal he went. He simply didn't fit. Again. Benfica had changed their coach but not their decision: he had to go. So the following pre-season was a hard time for him - the press, agents and himself did mention a handful of clubs willing to get Adu. Actually, it seemed that he was willing to get a club. Any club at all. And on the very last day of the open market, he was loaned out to Belenenses. The club had been relegated the season before but was then able to keep a Premier League spot after some legal issue. He played as a sub twice and finally got his very first start in an European league game on October 12th, 2009... and came off injured at half-time. And, yet again, he didn't look to be fitting. And this is Adu's current status as a football player. There may be too many reasons why things have gone so wrong for him - though I believe the player himself is not aware of what's going on. You see, Adu has one hundred eighty two thousand five hundred and one followers on his Twitter account - and none of them is yet to tell him that this may well be another dark season, that his contract until 2012 with Benfica may well be terminated, that his national team status is fading out, and that his American dream may well have an early end. And he seems to be in denial and still feeding his hype with some questionable and frequent tweeting. But then you ask: how come so many people, including the likes of Sir Alex Ferguson, may have been so wrong? There's no unique answer.  Adu was once the biggest American prospect, now he is vanishing quickly. / Photo: RealClearSports.com But today's football is much more than talent and registered brands: now it's all about speed, power, intensity, anticipation, versatility, unselfishness, concentration, consistency. The best teams and coaches do not have a special place for entertainers - they all have to win. Every match, every day. Looking closely to his football, as it is now, you see a player with a lost identity: he's somehow confused about why can't any football coach in the world simply play him. With all the magic tricks, the nice touch, the fantastic dribble, the brilliant fake shoot followed with an assist. He doesn't need people to tell him how great he is, or was, or will be. He needs people to teach him how football is played today, what do coaches look for in a player, how can he raise his game... how can he finally turn himself from a potential brand to become a real football player. But how? Well, it's not been asked - but anyway here goes some honest advice: - be focused! You have to be aware where (and why) are you now, and just adjust yourself to your current team needs and targets; - become a team player! If this means running after opponents a lot more time than having the ball, just do it, you'll earn your team-mates huge respect; - be aggressive! off and on the ball; - show ambition! To make things happen every time you can; - think and play faster! Anticipate the counter, a challenge, a tackle, an assist; - show versatility! Spread your game: defend like a defender, hold and pass like a midfielder and attack like an attacker; - enjoy your game! As a football pro, I have seen many players adjust their approach, their skills and even their style to make it to the top flight, and certainly there is time enough for the current Fredua to get on track... or Freddy Adu will simply be remembered as the footballer who had more tweets than minutes.
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